Welcome to The Vault

Our legacy is our future

Explore over 107 years of iconic work

Curated by Bob Hoffman, Technicolor historian and long-standing friend of the studio

Photographer Anthony Friedkin’s image, below, was taken on the Universal Studios backlot, sometime in the late 1970s. The vault held any number of classic Technicolor 3-strip 35mm film prints, but we use it here in a metaphorical way – to suggest the value of preservation of our shared legacy and heritage. Aside from those cinematic assets in the image, we believe they represent the enduring value of the company’s celebrated past, that continues to resonate today, informing our future goals. What do we mean by legacy and heritage?

Copyright © Anthony Friedkin

A simple web search comes-up with definitions that contextualize these concepts, “…heritage is the history, traditions, and qualities that have been passed on for many years, and that define what it is today; legacy is a current situation that exists because of actions or events in the past…”

Reflecting on Technicolor’s twelve decade-long history, we’ve chosen to create a space for those many interested parties who wish to know more about the company’s celebrated past…BUT not as an exercise in nostalgia. William Shakespeare was quite clear-eyed when he suggested, “what’s past is prologue.” Obviously, he was addressing a very different context, while author William Faulkner once quipped, “the past is never dead. In fact, it is not even past.” This notion, of how the past continues to resonate, is something we plan to explore — while not pitting the past against the present.

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The Vault

Scroll through major moments in our iconic history.

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1915
1917
1921
1922
1926
1927
1929
1932
1933
1934
1935
1937
1938
1939
1941
1943
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1970
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2012
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2019
2020
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2024
NOW
1915

Technicolor is born

1917

Technicolor's first commercially released film 'The Gulf Between'

1921

Technicolor redesign camera and printing process for The Toll of the Sea

1922

Technicolor makes the front page of the New York Times

1926

Color is embraced on feature films 'Wings' and 'The Black Pirate'

1927

The Jazz Singer, the first theatrical feature film to incorporate sound using the Vitaphone system

1929

Technicolor worked on the first ever all-talking, all-2-color film 'On with the Show!'

1929

Audiences found the combination of color, sound and music irresistible, and in 1929 Technicolor signed with Warner Bros for twenty all-color feature films

1932

Technicolor add color to Walt Disney’s short cartoon Flowers and Trees, the first film to use Technicolor's new and improved three-strip process

1933

Disney's 1933 Technicolor success, Three Little Pigs is released

1934

Natalie Kalmus was a trailblazing woman who headed the color consultancy department

1935

During the 1935-1936 production season, Technicolor's volume of release print footage increases from 22 million to over 37 million feet of film

1935

The first feature-length movie shot entirely in three-strip Technicolor, Becky Sharp

1937

Shirley Temple presents Walt Disney with an honorary Academy Award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

1937

3-strip Technicolor was a huge success and it ushered in a golden period for Technicolor

1937

Snow White becomes highest-grossing animated film of all time during this era

1938

The Adventures of Robin Hood was the first full-length feature film from Warner Bros. to use the three-strip Technicolor process

1939

Gone with the Wind is the first all-color production to win the Academy Award for Best Picture

1939

The Wizard of Oz triumphantly realized in Technicolor

1941

Technicolor introduces new multi-layer single film process, Monopack

1943

The early 1940s

1944

Meet Me in St. Louis

1945

Significant film achievements were seen during wartime

1952

The decade's top ten highest grossing films boasted "Color by Technicolor"

1953

A successful 50s for Technicolor with the increasing popularity of television

1953

The Greatest Show on Earth

1953

Jhansi Ki Rani is credited as 'Color by Technicolor'

1954

The legendary 1954 White Christmas, filmed in Technicolor

1955

Technicolor and the heyday of Hollywood Musicals

1955

Following World War 2, Technicolor reaffirmed its place as the industry benchmark. That never changed from the late 1930s onward and inclusive of the ‘50s

1958

In Hollywood, director Alfred Hitchcock created his Technicolor masterpieces including North by Northwest and Vertigo

1960

The 1960s saw the dramatic growth of television, leading to motion pictures being shown on screen at home

1960

Shortly after his retirement, Dr. Kalmus became one of the few non-performers to be honored on the Hollywood Boulevard's 'Walk of Fame'

1961

Babes in Toyland

The Disney adaptation was the second filmed version of this operetta and the first to hit theatres in Technicolor. It was Walt Disney’s first foray into live-action musicals, and he was looking to achieve the “yellow brick” gold standard set by the The Wizard of Oz in 1939.

1962

Kollywood in Technicolor

1964

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brought to life with the Technicolor coloring process!

1970

Francis Ford Coppola & Warren Beatty signify the future direction with the help of Technicolor

1970

Dr. Kalmus and the longevity of Technicolor

1970

Technicolor ceased dye-transfer printing in the 1970s and completed the transition to modern color film processing.

1970

Scrooge

This is an Academy Award nominated musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. It starred Albert Finney in the title role, for which he won a Golden Globe award, and was photographed by acclaimed cinematographer Oswald Morris, BSC.

1975

The 70s and Technicolor

1976

The introduction of high-speed bulk release-printing first facilitated by Technicolor

1980

Technicolor introduces the new silver-retention process on Warren Beatty’s 'Reds'

1980

The last directors using Technicolor's dye-transfer

1984

Gremlins

A clip of It’s a Wonderful Life appears in this film, but that’s where these two small-town holiday-themed stories’ similarities end. Technicolor worked on this Warner Bros. release just as the horror/comedy genre was taking off.

1985

Picture Gallery - MPC Showreel

1986

Monkey Business - MPC Showreel

1988

Scrooged! A Technicolor lab production

1990

The Mill opened in Soho as the world’s first fully digital VFX house for advertising

1990

Edward Scissor Hands

Did you know that in this Technicolor sound service classic: The idea for the movie was inspired by a drawing Tim Burton had done when he was a teenager.

1992

The Muppet Christmas Carol

1993

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 American stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced and conceived by Tim Burton with Prints by Technicolor.

1997

The Mill stepped into feature films with Mill Film, founded by Robin Sheffield and Pat Joseph

1998

The Mill builds all models for the first two films in the Harry Potter franchise

1999

The Hollywood Technicolor lab reintroduced dye transfer

2000

Mill Film completes work on Ridley Scott epic 'Gladiator'

2000

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

A Christmas Classic - How The Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the many classics that with Technicolor sound services

2001

Visual effects facility Mill Film (The Mill) pick up an Oscar at the 73rd Academy Awards for ‘Best Visual Effects’ for ‘Gladiator’

2001

A leader in digital technologies, Thomson SA maintains its legacy of innovation by aquiring Technicolor

2001

Technicolor creates stand-alone division devoted to digital intermediate production

2001

MR. X (MPC) is founded and opens studio in Toronto

2002

MPC Advertising (now The Mill) add VFX to Madonna’s music video ‘Die Another Day’

2002

Eight Crazy Nights

2005

A word from Martin Scorsese about Technicolor

2006

The Mill expands locations with opening of Los Angeles office

2006

The Holiday

A Technicolor Digital intermediate Christmas Classic!

2007

The iconic Cadbury’s ‘Gorilla’ campaign featuring VFX from MPC Advertising (The Mill)

2007

Fred Claus

MPC carried out a significant number of shots for the project, with the main areas of work including; the creation of a computer-generated North Pole city, extending the Snow Globe environment and augmenting crowds of CG Elves staffing Santa’s toyshop and living in the North Pole.

2008

Technicolor Games kickstarts work on FIFA with EA

2008

Mikros Image wins the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival for Laurent Cantet’s film 'Entre les murs'

2009

The Mill wins a yellow D&AD pencil for Coke ‘It’s Mine’

2009

Mikros Image's Logorama wins Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film

2009

The Mill receives two BAFTAs for Visual Effects for work on the Return of Dr Who 

2010

Nickelodeon awards Technicolor’s Bangalore-based animation studio, Paprikaas, the Kung Fu Panda TV series 

2010

The Mill collaborates with Nike for their 2010 World Cup campaign

2011

The Mill wins a Gold Ciclope Award for Guinness ‘Cloud’ 

2011

VW 'Beetle' strikes Gold for The Mill at LIA

2011

Technicolor provides services to support Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 record opening

2012

The Mill wins Gold British Arrow for Range Rover 'Accelerator'

2012

The Mill adds VFX to Channel 4's iconic ‘Meet The Superhumans’

2012

MPC win BAFTA for Special Visual Effects on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2013

MPC win 3 major awards for Visual Effects on Life of Pi 

2013

Rockstar reinforces the Grand Theft Auto V Team with Technicolor Games

2013

Gravity

Technicolor’s teams in Hollywood and London supported the London-based production and post-production of Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity.

2013

Picture and sound post-production on Romeo and Juliet

Technicolor completes picture and sound post-production on new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet directed by Carlo Carlei

2014

MR. X (MPC) wins Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Visual Effects for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

2014

The Mill wins a yellow D&AD Pencil for Peta ‘98% Human'

2014

Mikros Animation’s first feature animation - Asterix - The Mansions of the Gods

2014

MR. X (MPC) wins Canadian Screen Award for Best Visual Effects in a TV Program for Vikings

2014

Birdman

Technicolor develop a specific post-production workflow geared to the precise needs of the production of Director Alejandro Inarritu’s new film, Birdman

2015

Technicolor celebrates 100 years of creative technology with a Hollywood star of recognition

2015

Technicolor Provides Sound Services for Ted 2

Seth MacFarlane’s hilariously foul-mouthed teddy bear is back in the spotlight for Ted 2.

2015

The Little Prince marks Mikros Animation's first collaboration on an international project

2015

MR. X (MPC) wins Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Visual Effects for Pompeii

2016

Technicolor helps bring The Revenant to visceral life through Color & VFX

2016

SONIC BOOM™ launches: a co-production between SEGA of America, Inc. & Mikros Animation

2016

The Mill wins a Gold Cannes Innovation Lion

2016

Technicolor Games begins working with 2K

2016

Ben-Hur Chariot Sequence Races to the Winner’s Circle With Help from MR.X (MPC)

Technicolor’s VFX studio Mr.X (now MPC) delivered over 500 visually-stunning shots for Ben-Hur’s signature chariot race.

2017

MPC win Academy Award, BAFTA and VES Awards for Best VFX for The Jungle Book 

2017

The first international feature for Mikros Animation - Release of Captain Underpants: The Epic Movie

2017

The Shape of Water

2018

Color grading Childish Gambino’s ground-breaking 'This Is America' music video

2018

First collaboration between Mikros Animation and Technicolor Animation Productions

on an animation episodic project: Team DroniX

2018

Captain Underpants: The Epic Movie is nominated at VES in the category “Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature” 

2018

MPC Advertising (The Mill) partner with adam&eveDDB on the Elton John starring John Lewis campaign 'The Boy & The Piano'

2018

Technicolor Games partners with Santa Monica Studios

2018

MR. X (MPC) wins Canadian Screen Award for Best Visual Effects in a TV Program for Vikings

2018

Director Alfonso Cuarón recognizes Technicolor's work on Roma

2018

MR. X (MPC) Provides Knockout Visual Effects for Creed II

MR. X (now MPC) brings scope – massive crowds – and excitement to the Rocky-inspired feature’s thrilling boxing scenes and final showdown.

2019

Outernet Global partners with Technicolor for the Future of Immersive Entertainment

Worldwide co-production and innovation partnership paves the way for high capacity, location-based experiences at major city destinations.

2019

Stunning visuals add gripping detail and drama to Chernobyl

Technicolor’s role in dramatizing the nuclear disaster was to make it look and feel disturbingly real for the viewer.

2019

ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS becomes the most-watched kids series in Europe

2019

MPC Advertising (The Mill) partner with Ridley Scott for Hennessy ‘Seven Worlds’ adventure

2019

The Lion King Comes Roaring Back to Life

Technicolor’s MPC Film collaborated with the filmmakers of Disney’s The Lion King to bring the beloved story and its characters back to the big screen in a whole new way.

2019

Building the Steampunk Fantasy World of Carnival Row

VFX Supervisor Matt Glover discusses MR. X’s work on the Amazon Prime series, starring Orlando Bloom and a cast of mythical creatures and Victorian characters.

2019

LEGO’s ‘Rebuild The World’ Campaign

Follow the White Rabbit and Enter a World Where Limitless Imagination Comes to Life

2019

At Technicolor, Surviving Zombies is more than a Game

Technicolor Games partnered with Capcom to deliver more realistic nightmarish creatures on Resident Evil 2 remake.

2019

Technicolor’s The Mill and MPC Are Named Top Two UK Post Facilities in Survey

This is The Mill’s 11th year in a row taking the top spot in the annual Televisual Facilities 50 survey.

2020

MPC wins BAFTA for best Special Visual Effects for 1917 

2020

MPC wins VES award for Best VFX for The Lion King 

2020

MPC Advertising (now The Mill) launches the award-winning Festive campaign for Burberry, which goes on to win 100+ awards

2020

MR. X (MPC) wins Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Effects for Vikings

2020

The One and Only Ivan

MPC Film brings Virtual Production, Character Design and Animation expertise to Disney’s The One and Only Ivan.

2020

The Mill opens boutique studio in the heart of Berlin

2020

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run: A Visual Feast of Color, Comedy and Animated Fun

Technicolor provided a full range of services with close collaboration across creative studios, including animation by Mikros Animation, VFX by MR. X (MPC) and color by Technicolor Picture Post.

2021

Replay the Super Bowl Ads with Game-Changing Work from The Mill

Technicolor’s award-winning creative studios worked on over 20 spots for the big game.

2021

Technicolor Creative Studios is ready to Go "Beyond Imagination"

2021

Andrea Miloro named as President of Mikros Animation 

2021

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run nominated for the 2021 VES awards

2021

Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion becomes the all-time best performer in France box office 

2021

MR. X (MPC) receives Academy Award Nomination for Best Visual Effects for Love and Monsters 

2021

MPC Advertising (now The Mill) awarded the first ever Gold Cannes Lion for Color Grade

2021

MPC delivers Bold and Rebellious VFX for Cruella

Disney’s live-action feature about one of cinema’s most notorious villains is set against a 1970’s London punk rock backdrop.

2021

Mikros Animation brings cinematic talents to PAW Patrol: The Movie

Heroic pups of the Spin Master global franchise hit the big screen for the first time in full CGI cinematic animation.

2021

Technicolor Games scores again for EA with FIFA 22

Technicolor Games collaboration with Electronic Arts (EA) began back in 2008, and the team has worked on every FIFA edition released since FIFA 2009.

2021

Technicolor Games appoints new Global President, Jeaneane Falkler

2021

Technicolor Games works on NBA 2K22, which becomes #1 downloaded title on Playstation in 2021

2022

The Mill and MPC Advertising Unite Under The Mill Brand

2022

VFX studios MPC Film and MPC Episodic integrate with MR. X under MPC brand

2022

Technicolor Games solidifies footprint in the video games market with continued expansion

2022

The Mill takes home two accolades at the VES Awards

2022

Bringing Back the World’s Favorite Hedgehog in: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Paramount Pictures and director Jeff Fowler teams up with MPC to bring a fully CGI Sonic to life, completing over 1400 shots for the movie and its iconic character.

2022

Season 1 Of Gus, The Itsy Bitsy Knight, from Mikros Animation, is still conquering charts

2022

MPC Wins ‘Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature’ VES Award for Finch

2022

MPC wins Canadian Screen Award for Best Visual Effects in a TV Program for Vikings

2022

MPC wins Genie Award for Best VFX in Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days Soars with VFX from MPC bringing historical reality and visual sweep to Jules Verne’s globe-spanning adventure.

2022

We're opening a campus in Culver City, Los Angeles

2022

Live-action meets Animation meets Photo-Real CGI in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers

MPC’s “jet-packed” mission was to deliver a seamless blend of media styles for the Disney+ feature while orchestrating a massive team of artists from around the world.

2022

Technicolor Creative Studios becomes an independent company

2022

Prometheus VFX revealed

Come behind the VFX magic of Ridley Scott’s latest feature

2024

Technicolor Creative Studios rebrands to Technicolor Group

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